
Historical Notes Relating to 

the Second Settlement 

of Worcester 



BY 



LINCOLN N. KINNICUTT 



^mtvitan Jlnitquartan ^cciei:^ 



Historical Notes Relating to 

the Second Settlement 

of Worcester 

BY 
LINCOLN N. KINNICUTT 



Refbinted fbou the Proceedings of the American Anotiquabian Society 
FOR October, 1916. 



WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, U. S. A. 

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY 

1916 



THE DAVIS PRESS 
Worcester, Mabsachusbtts 









HISTORICAL NOTES RELATING TO THE 
SECOND SETTLEMENT OF WORCESTER 



BY LINCOLN N. KINNICUTT 



While recognizing the wide field which is offered 
to the American Antiquarian Society for its research, 
and also recognizing that a small stream in Worcester 
is perhaps of comparatively little importance, never- 
theless I venture to offer to the Society a very early 
document in relation to Mill Brook, which, in Colonial 
days, was sometimes called Mill River, Fort River, 
Swift River, Danson Brook and Bimelek. This 
brook and the Blackstone River (of which it is one of 
the sources) from the time that Worcester was known 
only as the Plantation of Quinsigamond, have been 
important factors in the city's history. 

Mill Brook rises among the hills northwest of Wor- 
cester, flows through North Pond and Salisbury 
Pond to Lincoln Square. It then continues through 
the very heart of the city, east of Main Street and 
somewhat parallel to it. Here it is mostly covered, 
but on its former banks throughout its whole course, 
are situated most of the largest manufacturing cor- 
porations of the city. 

The document is the original petition to the General 
Court, dated December 14, 1685 and, as stated, is 
signed by the ''grater nomber of the Inhabitants now 
settled in the town of Woster, " one year and a quarter 
after the second settlement of the town was begun. 
These signatures are historically valuable, as they 
give authentic proof of actual settlers at this date, 
and if the statement therein contained was true, it 



places the whole number of settlers at less than 
twenty. With its quaint orthography and remark- 
able spelling, it is a little difficult to translate into 
modern English, but it reads as follows: 

"Wester this 14 of desember 1685 
"Wee whos nams are vnder Reten being the gratest nomber 
of the Inhabetanc now setelled in the town of woster haueing 
consedered And ben Ey witnese of the grat expenc that mr John 
wing has ben At in belding hes mills which is moch for oure 
benefet And convenienc And of letell profet to him nor lik 
to be yet Awhill: as Allso his hellpfullnes in oure poglek 
Concernments And forderanc of the setellmet of this town: 
we doe Aprove of his Choyc of that trak of land lying 
from [ ] Corner of the setedell And wheare it dos begin And 
Runn up on the westery sid of the mill rever tel it met the north 
pond tho this being more then his forst devission yet that he oft 
in All Justes to poses the remainer As his acome [ ] that he may 
haue all the land on that sid of the brok as his propryety that 
no persen may dam Aboue him to hender his mills: as Allso 
wee farder lok At it to be his right for As moch As seauer[al] 
of vs doe know that Captain Hinkeman did promis this Lokt 
of land to said wing a year and [ ] before Euer garg dansen 
saw this pl[ ] of that land as Allso be[cause] som of vs 
woled [ ] som of oure deuistions of Ian d theare but Cap- 
tain hin[ke]man toulld vs that we colld not for he had 
promes that land to Cap wing And we haue Euer cenc loked 
At it to be his only thet it was not mesered to him but we 
loked it shoUd haue ben don in convenent tim it is oure de- 
sires that such uncomfortabell dife[rences] may be put to 
An End And that this land may be setelled vpon Cap wing 
youres in all sobiecktion 
"William x Wekes Isaac Tomlin Thomas Hall 

his mark Gorgs Rosbrowgh Pe. Goulding Sen 

Thomas Allerton William ^ pers Digory Sargent 

Isaac Bull his mark" 

iames homes 

The name of William Pers does not elsewhere ap- 
pear among the lists of inhabitants. 

The most important signature is that of Digory 
Sargent, whose name is perhaps more closely associ- 
ated with the early history of Worcester, with the 
exception of the founders, than any other. His 
story has been told many times. Although the name 



has been given by almost all writers as "Serjent, " 
and it is so written in his will dated March 17, 1696/ 
we find here his earliest known signature written 
"Sargent." He was the last inhabitant to desert 
the second attempt to form a settlement and he was 
obliged to, when he was killed and scalped by the 
Indians in 1703. 

This petition had much weight in the first law-suit 
pertaining to this stream — Danson vs. Wing in 1685, 
and both stream and law-suits have flowed along 
together ever since, blessed by the lawyers and damned 
by the mill owners. 

In following the course of this trial we find pertaining 
to it the names of three men all of whom filled posi- 
tions of trust and honor in the Colony: Major General 
Gookin, called the Father of Worcester, Captain 
Daniel Henchman and Captain John Wing, both of 
whom were valuable assistants to Major Gookin 
in the early work of the settlement of the town, each 
in his turn taking the leadership and general direction 
of the second attempt at settlement, until its aban- 
donment in 1703. 

The whole story of the Mill Brook dispute is con- 
tained in a paper read before the Worcester Society 
of Antiquity, May 6, 1884, by Francis E. Blake, and 
is included in their Proceedings. A short synopsis 
is as follows: In October, 1684, Captain John Wing 
was appointed a member of the Committee having 
charge of the Plantation of Quinsigam.ond — six days 
afterwards the General Court granted the petition 
for having the Plantation named Worcester. In a 
general agreement by the committee, April 24, 1684, 
three lots were to be granted to "The builders and 
mainteyners of a Sawmilne" and a like number for 
"agristmilne."2 On May 22, 1685, John Wing was 
granted ten eighteen acre lots, six of which were for 



» Lincoln's History of Worcester, p. 36. 
' Proprietors' Records, p. 38. 



6 

his mills; also eighteen hut lots ''upon part whereof 
his dwelling house and barne now standeth," and ad- 
ditional land was also granted to him on Mill Brook 
"with the privilege of the Mill Brooke only to him and 
to his heirs. "^ All this land with all the privileges was 
confirmed July 9, 1686. The confirmation reads as 
follows : 

"All the Grants aboue expesed are confirmed to Capt John 
Wing & his heires and assignes forr euerr; By the Comitte of 
the Honble Presedent & Councel impowred thervnto by this 
order dated June 11 1686 don at the meeting of Said Comitte 
at Boston July 9th 1686 & Signed by 

Daniel Gookin Sen 
Thomas Prentice 
William Bond 
Joseph Lynd & 
John Haynes. {*) 

These grants were surveyed in November, 1714, 
by David Haynes, a report made and a plan drawn 
showing this part of Captain John Wing's land on 
Mill Brook.5 

Shortly after this grant to Captain John Wing there 
was granted to George Danson of Boston, a baker, 
two hundred acres of land bounded on the east by 
Mill Brook and on the South by Captain John Wing's 
land, and a little later Danson was granted forty 
acres more adjoining the first grant.^ This was 
the beginning of the trouble, for Captain John Wing 
wanted the remainder of the land on Mill Brook, and 
from much evidence given at the trial it would seem 
that Captain Daniel Henchman had given him some 
right to expect that he would have it. 

October 2, 1685, while George Danson was survey- 
ing his first grant, he claimed that he was assaulted 
by Captain John Wing and " conf ederators, " the 



• Proprietors' Records, p. 42. 

• Proprietors' Records, p. 43-44. 
' Proprietors' Records, p. 125. 

• Proprietors' Records, p. 44. 




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bound marks were cut and surveyor's chain was 
taken away, and he also claimed that his title to the 
land was defamedJ In this trial much testimony 
was taken, and one of the most interesting and impor- 
tant documents was an affidavit signed by Daniel 
Henchman on October 5, 1685, only two days before 
his death and three days after the assault, stating 
that he had received from Mr. Danson £5, 10 s, '4n 
settlement for twenty lots and the land where he had 
situated, he, Daniel Henchman, had not disposed of 
to any other person or promised the same — or was it 
in his power so to do, and the molestation given him, 
George Danson, was unjust. " The trial resulted in 
the confirmation of George Danson's title to the land 
but with the stipulation that he should not ''erect 
any corne mil or saw mill vpon mil Brook," or in any 
way interfere with Captain Wing's privileges on the 
stream. 

This quarrel probably embittered the last days of 
Captain Daniel Henchman, who died almost two 
months before the trial began. He had given many 
years of his life in attempting to form the settlement, 
for from 1668, with the exception of Major General 
Gookin, he had been the most active member of the 
Committee for settlement of the plantation. From 
1683, when the second attempt was begun, he prac- 
tically had full management of its affairs until his 
death, Oct. 15, 1685, just one year after the name of 
Worcester had been given to the plantation. He 
had full power to grant land and to assign locations 
to settlers, and his plan to make the center, in the 
neighborhood of the present Lincoln Square and 
along that part of Mill Brook near the Square, was 
adopted. Until this controversy began he apparently 
was the honored and accepted leader, but now he 
found his leadership disputed, his integrity ques- 
tioned and his popularity waning. Samuel Sewall 



' Court files of Middlesex County. 



8 

wrote in his diary under date of October 19, 1685, 
"About Nine aclock at night News comes to Town of 
Capt. Henchmen's Death at Worcester last Thorsday; 
buried on Friday. Very few at his Funeral, his own 
Servants, a white and black, carried him to, and put 
him in his Grave. His Wife and children following 
him and no more, or but one or two more." His 
burial place is unknown and unmarked. The City 
of Worcester has honored his memory and paid 
tribute to his great ability and worth by giving the 
name of Henchman to a very short street, the location 
of which is probably unknown to a great majority 
of the inhabitants of the City. A sad ending for one 
who had held msmy offices of honor and trust in the 
Colony and who had proved himself a brave soldier 
in King PhiHp's war and an able leader in the founding 
of our City! 

On the death of Captain Henchman, Captain John 
Wing became the leader of the new settlement, and 
his exclusive right to the use of Mill Brook being 
confirmed, as a result of this controversy, he apprently 
increased his ownership of land in the immediate 
vicinity of the Brook. This was accomplished by 
purchase and by allotment. Also, a few years later, 
after George Danson's death, he obtained possession 
of the 400 acres on Mill Brook about which there had 
been all this controversy. How this was accom- 
plished is, I believe, unknown. Evidently he was a 
man possessing much executive ability, foresight and 
perhaps what now would be named political sagacity, 
for there is a strong probabiUty that he had planned 
to become the leading spirit of the small community 
before Captain Henchman's death and had certainly 
convinced the majority of the settlers, as shown by 
this petition, that he had a strong and just grievance 
against Captain Henchman. In 1675 Captain Wing 
served as ensign in a Company of Foot, of which 
Daniel Henchman was Commander, and in 1683 he 
succeeded to Captain Henchman's position.' 

• Colony Records, vol. 5, p. 33, Shurtlefif, vol. 5, p. 419. 



We obtain a little insight of the character of Captain 
Wing, of his independence and of his self confidence, 
through a document signed by him, now in the pos- 
session of this Society. It is an answer to advice 
given him by Mr. Joseph Dudley in relation to having 
the title of his lands in Worcester confirmed, after 
Governor Andros had declared all lands granted 
under former government forfeited to the crown. 
A copy of Captain Wing's deposition is as follows: 
Boston in New England this 30**^ of January 1689 

This Deposition of John Winge aged fifty three years or 
thereabouts testefyeth that in the yeare 1687 & 88 the De- 
ponant had suffered Damage & was much disturbed by 
George Danson by severall suites in law concerning a tract 
of land lying within the bounds of the Towne of Worchester, 
which the deponant with others had a deed of sale for from 
the Heires of sd land and grantes from the Generall Courte 
of the Colony of the Massa— tusetts and in quiet possession of 
sd land but being disturbed sundry times by sd George Danson 
the Deponant went to M'" Joseph Dudleys house in Roxs- 
bury to ask his advice what might be done that these trouble 
might be at an end. The Deponant told sd Dudley that he 
had already attended the methods and rules according to the 
lawes and orders of the Coloney for settling of lands. The sd 
Dudley told sd Deponant that he must goe to S' Edm^^ 
Andros and take a Patent of all my lands as else I must not 
expect to enjoy them, using many arguments and perswasions 
with me saying that all men must patent y' lands from S' 
Edm^ Andros. The deponent asked sd Dudley what then 
would become of the Grantees of y^ Generall Courte if now 
we must be put to this trouble and charge to take Patents 
for our lands, as by soe doing how would our titles be made 
better, or how long would this title last when another Gover- 
nor would come, he might also say we must take new patents 
from him: No, sd Dudley, then y' title will be good, but the 
Deponent thought his title from the Generall Courte as good 
as S' Edm^ Andros could make it by his Patent & much 
better therefore thought not fitt to take the advice sd Dudley 
gave him, & this sd Dudley did urge sd Deponant severall 
times in the yeares above mentioned, and further sayth not 

John Wing. 

John Wing personally appeared before mee this 30th 
January 1689/90 & made oath to y« truth of what is above 
written as alleges. 

Ja Russell. Assist. 



10 

Mr. Danson, to make sure of his title, thought best 
to apply for a new confirmation, which was granted. 

Under Captain Wing's leadership the affairs of the 
settlement appear to have run smoothly for a short 
time, but the Puritan independence of character, 
if that is the right name for it, seemed to exist too 
much among the early settlers of Worcester for the 
settlement's own good and for the harmony of the 
Colony, as in 1692 Captain Wing found in his turn 
that his authority and proceedings were being ques- 
tioned. Another petition was sent to the Governor, 
signed by six of the settlers, one of whom was Thomas 
Allerton whose name appears on the petition of 1685, 
praying permission to have a second garrison which 
would be nearer to their own homes, Captain Wing's 
garrison being two miles distant. A letter was written 
about this time stating that the greater number of 
the settlers were opposed to the new commander of 
the garrison, who had been appointed by Captain 
Wing. 

These dissensions probably retarded the growth of 
the settlement. There were sales of land by some of 
the first settlers who preferred to live elsewhere, and 
Captain Wing himself, apparently, after 1692, seems 
to have lost much of his personal interest, as he was 
in Worcester but very little of his time. He, how- 
ever, retained most of his original land and probably 
added to his holdings. 

As Worcester was dropped from the list of frontier 
towns in 1699, the settlers could no longer depend on 
assistance from the government in their protection 
from the Indians, who, about this time, had become 
very troublesome. This action of the Government is 
a little difficult to understand, unless the lack of 
harmony among the settlers themselves may have 
influenced their action. It resulted in the second 
attempt at settlement being abandoned, not to be 
renewed until 1713, and the place was once more 
deserted. 



11 

Capt. John Wing died in 1703 leaving by will to his 
wife a life interest in nearly all of his real estate in 
Worcester, which, at her death, was to go to his son 
Cord. Captain Wing's wife, Joshabeth, died a few 
years after her husband, and his son came into pos- 
session of the property. In 1717, Cord Wing of 
Boston, only surviving son of Capt. John Wing, con- 
veyed to Thomas Palmer of Boston, John Oulton 
of Marblehead, Cornelius Waldo of Boston, all of his 
right, title and interest whatever of and in all the 
property left to him in Worcester by his Father. On 
July 31, 1727, the three grantees, who apparently 
were the original believers in the future value of real 
estate in Worcester, made a division of a portion of 
the real estate held by them in common, they having 
purchased other large tracts of land in various parts 
of the settlement. They divided their holdings into 
three portions and drew lots. Lot number one was 
drawn by Cornelius Waldo. ^ His part consisted of 
all the land in the vicinity of Mill Brook which was 
owned by Captain Wing at his death, including the 
buildings, mill, pond and stream and all belonging 
to the same. This probably amounted to about 
1,000 acres. Under date of October 10, 1718, in the 
Record of Proprietors, page 124, is found a plan and 
description of this land, signed by David Haynes, 
surveyor. It is interesting to note that Cornelius 
Waldo was the great, great, great grandfather and 
Governor Levi Lincoln the great grandfather of the 
President of this Society, and that each once owned 
the property upon which our building stands. 

On April 22, 1771, Joseph Waldo, son of Cornelius 
Waldo, conveyed to John Hancock a certain farm in 
Worcester of 150 acres, and on November 5 of the 
same year John Hancock conveyed the same described 
premises to the first Stephen Salisbury. This was 
the land in the vicinity of Lincoln Square and included 



• Middlesex Co. Records, Book 31, p. 187 



12 

the location of the Old Salisbury Mansion with the 
grounds about it, and was the site of Capt. John Wing's 
mills, referred to in this petition. The mansion with 
its surrounding grounds Stephen Salisbury, 3d, be- 
queathed by will to this Society. 

On May 5, 1747, Cornelius Waldo sold to William 
Walker a certain part of the Wing property which 
included our present location. During the last one 
hundred and fifty years there has been much sub- 
division of this tract, but in 1770 Timothy Bigelow 
of Worcester bought a certain part of it and half of 
our building occupies a portion. In 1773 he pur- 
chased another division of the land on which the 
other half of the building is erected and the whole 
of our present location after one other transfer was 
sold to Gov. Levi Lincoln, May 10, 1793. He devised 
it to his son William who, in turn, sold it to Stephen 
Salisbury, 2d, May 23, 1833. Stephen Salisbury, 
3d, inheriting from his father, bequeathed it to the 
Worcester Art Museum who exchanged it with the 
American Antiquarian Society for the mansion loca- 
tion, giving to the Antiquarian Society other valuable 
considerations. 

The Salisbury family for three generations gradu- 
ally accumulated, mostly by purchase, piece after 
piece of Capt. John Wing's original holdings, and at 
the death of Stephen Salisbury, 3d, the greater por- 
tion of this large farm had come once more into the 
possession of one individual. Mr. Salisbury be- 
queathed nearly the whole of this estate to the 
Worcester Art Museum. 

It is a strange coincidence that this ancient docu- 
ment, found by accident in New York by one of your 
own members, Mr. Richard Ward Greene, who gave 
me the opportunity to acquire it, should, upon 
investigation, tell us so much about the particular 
lot of land which we now occupy and also should tell 
us so much about the early origin of Worcester's well 
known amiability. 



13 

If one of the results of the law suit in which this 
petition plays an important part had not been that 
Capt. John Wing was given the exclusive right in the 
waters of Mill Brook north of Lincoln Square, he 
probably would neither have retained the land he then 
held nor have had an incentive to acquire more. His 
farm would naturally have been divided much earlier 
and have passed into other hands. 

In 1901 the late Mr. Charles A. Chase contributed 
an interesting and valuable paper to the Society, 
entitled ''Land Titles of the American Antiquarian 
Society" and concluded by giving the abstracts of 
titles of our former locations, the Summer Street lot 
and the Court Hill lot. I have endeavored to com- 
plete the record and I give the abstracts of titles of 
our present and what we believe will be our permanent 

home. 

Abstracts of Titles * 

Honnawannonit Sagamore of Pakachoag and Woona- 
shocku Sagamore of Tataessit for their kindred and people to 
Daniel Gookin, Senior, and Daniel Hinchman and the rest 
of the General Courts Committee a tract of land eight miles 
square, in consideration of twelve pounds of lawful money 
of New England. July 13, 1674. Middlesex Reg. of Deeds, 
Book 8, p. 317. 

Wannarshawakum and other Indians the same described 
land to Daniel Gookin, Daniel Hinchman and the General 
Committee in consideration of "trucking Cloath," Dec. 6, 
1677. Middlesex Reg. of Deeds, Book 8, p. 318. 

May 22, 1685, Proprietors of Worcester to Captain John 
Wing eighteen ten acre planting lots, three lots of Thomas 
Baker with 180 acres ****** bounded on the East by Mill 
Brook. Also "eighteen hut lott upon part whereof his house 
& Barne now standeth," also "ten rods of land round where 
his mills standeth." Also "for a second division of land for 
farme lots in due proportion ***** the particular quantity of 
which farme lots cannot yet be well known" Proprietors 
Records, pp. 42, 43. 

February 24, 1703, by will. Captain John Wing to his 
wife Joshabeth, during life and then to his son Cord Wing. 
Suffolk Registry of Probate, Book 15, p. 122 and Book 17, 
p. 182. 

May 21, 1717, Cord Wing to Thomas Palmer, John Oulton 



14 

and Cornelius Waldo all his interest whatsoever his father 
possessed, situate within the Township of Worcester and in 
all future divisions of land allotted to him. Middlesex Rec- 
ords, Book 18, p. 403. 

October 10, 1718, pursuant to a grant for a second division 
in Worcester by the Honorable Committee appointed for 
granting land laid out to Thomas Palmer Esquire, Messrs. 
John Oulton and Cornelius Waldo *** four hundred and fifty 
acres with allowance for North Pond *** and one acre in 
thirty for swag of chain in full of land to be allotted to Captain 
John Wing in second division (On this second allotment is our 
present location). Records of the Proprietors, p. 124. 

January 31, 1727, Thomas Palmer, John Oulton and Cor- 
nelius Waldo made a division of their joint holdings, drawing 
lots for the partition, and lot number one, drawn by Cornelius 
Waldo, included all that great farm which belonged to Cap- 
tain John Wing in the vicinity of Mill Brook. Middlesex 
Records, Book 27, pp. 14, 19, 26, 31, 32, 62, 66. 

The following records taken from the Worcester District 
Registry of Deeds and Probate Records complete the chain 
of title. 

Cornelius Waldo to William Walker, May 5, 1747, Book 24, 
page 33. 

William Walker Estate. Case 61478 A. Will allowed June 
16, 1760. 

Decree allowing partition, April 5, 1762. Probate Records. 

Robert and Mary (Walker) OHver to Timothy Bigelow, 
May 1, 1770, Book 63, page 22. Warranty deed about 18^ 
acres, consideration, five pounds eight shillings. 

Joseph and Nancy (Walker) Brooks to Timothy Bigelow, 
January 6, 1773, Book 79, page 461. Warranty deed about 
IS}4 acres, consideration, twenty-five pounds and eight shill- 
ings. This deed was not recorded until September 21, 1778. 

Timothy Bigelow to Nathan Patch, March 6, 1789, Book 
105, page 543. Warranty deed about 36}^ acres. 

Nathan Patch to Levi Lincoln, May 10, 1793, Book 123, 
page 609. Warranty deed 32 acres, 89 rods. The date 1793 
on the acknowledgment of this deed appears to have been an 
error as the instrument was drawn May 1, 1795, and was 
recorded November 23, 1795. 

Levi Lincoln Estate. Case 37345A. Will allowed May 2, 
1820. The Patch place was devised to son William. Probate 
Records. 

William Lincoln to Stephen Salisbury, 2d., May 23, 1833, 
Book 292, page 63. Warranty deed 31 acres, 101 rods. 

Stephen Salisbury Estate, CASE 3541 B. Will allowed 
September 23, 1884. Devised all his real estate to his son 



15 

Stephen. Probate Records. Stephen SaHsbury, 3d., Estate, 
Case 36817 B. By will dated December 30, 1896, and codicil 
dated June 28, 1904, the Worcester Art Museum as residuary 
legatee came into possession of this particular piece of real 
estate on the allowance of the will, January 24, 1906. 

Worcester Art Museum to American Antiquarian Society, 
June 23, 1908. Book 1881, p. 544. 

Worcester Art Museum to American Antiquarian Society, 
October 21, 1912. Book 2013, p. 89. 

DEED OF JUNE 23, 1908 

Know all men by these presents: 

That the Worcester Art Museum, a corporation duly estab- 
lished by law in the City and County of Worcester and Com- 
monwealth of Massachusetts, in consideration of One Dollar 
and other valuable considerations to it paid by the American 
Antiquarian Society, a corporation duly established by law 
in said Worcester, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, 
does hereby remise, release and forever quitclaim unto the 
said American Antiquarian Society a certain tract or parcel 
of land, situate in said Worcester, bounded and described as 
follows, to wit : 

Beginning at a point indicated by a stone bound set m the 
ground at the intersection of the westerly line of Park Avenue 
with the southerly line of Salisbury Street; 

Thence southerly on the westerly line of Park Avenue 
three hundred twenty-six and twenty-seven one-hundredths 
(326.27) feet to a point indicated by a stone bound set in the 
ground on the westerly line of Park Avenue; 

Thence by a right angle to the last described line one hun- 
dred two and sixty-six one-hundredths (102.66) feet by other 
land of grantor to a point indicated by a stone bound set in 
the ground at an angle ; 

Thence deflecting 3° 14' to the right and continuing by other 
land of grantor one hundred three and one-half (103.5) feet to 
a point on the easterly line of Regent Street indicated by a 
stone bound set in the ground; the last described line being 
at right angles to Regent Street at the incidated point; 

Thence northerly on the easterly line of Regent Street one 
hundred eighty and twelve one-hundredths (180.12) feet, 
and by a curve to the right the radius of which is one hundred 
forty-nine (149) feet continuing on the easterly line of Regent 
Street two hundred twenty-five and sixty-four one-hundredths 
(225.64) feet, and by a tangent to the curved line last men- 
tioned forty-seven and eight one-hundredths (47.08) feet to 
the point of beginning, containing fifty-nine thousand, eight 
hundred and thirty-four (59,834) square feet area. 



16 

This conveyance is made subject to the express restrictions 
which are a part of the consideration therefore, 

That no building or part of a building shall be placed on the 
above described tract of land nearer than fifteen (15) feet of 
any street line during the full term of twenty (20) years from 
and after the first day of April, 1899. 

And that said lot is to be used only for the erection of build- 
ings to be occupied by said Society during said term of twenty 
(20) years and that a building is to be erected within five (5) 
years from the date hereof. 

To have and to hold the granted premises with all the privi- 
leges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said Ameri- 
can Antiquarian Society and its successors and assigns, to its 
and their own use and behoof forever. 

And the Worcester Art Museum does hereby for itself and 
its successors and assigns covenant with the said grantee and 
its successors and assigns that the granted premises are free 
from all incumbrances made or suffered by it and that it will 
and its successors and assigns shall warrant and defend the 
same to the said grantee and its successors and assigns forever 
against the lawful claim.s and demands of all persons claiming 
by through or under it, but against none other. 

In witness whereof the said Worcester Art Museum by 
Lincoln N. Kinnicutt, its Treasurer, hereunto duly authorized, 
hereunto sets its hand and seal this twenty-third day of June 
in the year one thousand nine hundred and eight. 
Worcester Art Museum (Seal) 

by Lincoln N. Kinnicutt, Treas. 
Commonwealth of Masssachusetts 

Worcester, ss. June 23, 1908. Then personally appeared 
the above-named Lincoln N. Kinnicutt, Treasurer, as afore- 
said, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be the 
free act and deed of the Worcester Art Museum, before me, 
T. H. Gage, Jr., Justice of the Peace. 
Rec'd July 1, 1908, at llh. 14m. A. M. Ent'd & Ex'd. 
(Recorded in Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 

1881, p. 544). 

DEED OF OCTOBER 21, 1912 
Know all men by these presents: 

That the W^orcester Art Museum, a corporation duly 
established by law in the City and County of Worcester and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in consideration of One 
Dollar and other valuable considerations to it paid by the 
American Antiquarian Society, a corporation duly estab- 



17 

lished by law in the same Worcester, the receipt whereof is 
hereby acknowledged, does hereby remise, release and for- 
ever quitclaim unto the said American Antiquarian Society, 
a certain tract or parcel of land situate in said Worcester 
and bounded and described as follows, to wit: — 

Beginning at a hole drilled into the top of a stone bound set 
in the ground on the westerly line of Park Avenue and the 
northeast corner of the premises hereby conveyed and at the 
southeast corner of other land of grantee as described in a 
deed of the grantor to the grantee dated June 23, 1908 and 
recorded in Book 1881, Page 544 at the Worcester County, 
Registry of Deeds; 

Thence westerly at a right angle to the said westerly line 
of Park Avenue and by said other land of grantee one hun- 
dred two and sixty-six hundredths (102.66) feet to a point; 

Thence deflecting to the right 3" and 14' and continuing 
westerly by said other land of grantee one hundred three and 
fifty hundredths (103.50) feet to a point on the easterly line 
of Regent Street which point is the northwest corner of the 
tract of land hereby conveyed and the southwest corner of 
said other land of grantee; 

Thence southerly on the said easterly line of Regent Street 
ninety (90) feet to a hole drilled into the top of a stone bound 
set in the ground at the northwest corner of land of one Richey; 

Thence easterly by the northerly line of said land of said 
Richey and at a right angle to the said easterly line of Regent 
Street one hundred six and four hundredths (106.04) feet to a 
hole drilled into the top of a stone bound set in the ground at 
an angle; 

Thence deflecting to the left 3° and 14' continuing easterly 
one hundred five and twenty hundredths (105.20) feet by 
other land of grantor to a point on the westerly line of Park 
Avenue where the last described line intersects the said wester- 
ly line of Park Avenue at a right angle; 

Thence northerly on the westerly line of Park Avenue eighty 
nine and ninety-nine hundredths (89.99) feet to the point of 
beginning, containing eighteen thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-one (18,781) square feet area; the same being a part of 
the Estate of the late Stephen Salisbury. 

This conveyance is made under the express condition and 
as a part of the consideration therefor, that the tract of land 
hereby conveyed shall be the same and is hereby made a 
part of the tract of land adjoining on the north, conveyed to 
the grantee by deed of the grantor dated and recorded as 
above mentioned, thus constituting two tracts one and the 
same tract of land and thereby subject as one tract to all con- 
ditions restrictions and reservations made and stipulated in 



18 

the said deed of the grantor dated June 23, 1908 and recorded 
in the Worcester County Registry of Deeds, Book 1881, page 
544. 

To have and to hold the granted premises with all the privi- 
leges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said American 
Antiquarian Society and its successors and assigns, to its and 
their own use and behoof forever. 

And the Worcester Art Museum does hereby for itself and 
its successors and assigns covenant with the grantee and its 
successors and assigns that the granted premises are free 
from all incumbrances made or suffered by it and that it will 
and its successors and assigns shall warrant and defend the 
same to the said grantee and its successors and assigns forever 
against the lawful claims and demands of all persons claiming 
by, through or under it, but against none other. 

In witness whereof the said Worcester Art Museum by 
Lincoln N. Kijinicutt, its Treasurer, hereunto duly author- 
ized, hereunto sets its hand and seal this twenty-first day of 
October in the year one thousand nine hundred and twelve. 
Worcester Art Museum (seal) 

by LiNCON N. KiNNicuTT, Treas. 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Worcester ss. October 21, 1912. Then personally ap- 
peared the above named Lincoln N. Kinnicutt, Treasurer aa 
aforesaid, and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be 
the free act and deed of the Worcester Art Museum, before 
me, 

F. H. Dewey, Justice of the Peace. 

At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Worces- 
ter Art Museum held October 9, 1912, it was unanimously 
voted to sell to the American Antiquarian Society eighteen 
thousand, seven hundred and eight-one (18,781) square feet 
of land adjoining the American Antiquarian Society's lot on 
the south and extending through from Park Avenue to Regent 
Street. 

A true copy, 

Attest:— T. H. Gage, Clerk 

Rec'd Nov. 12, 1912 at lOh. 59m. A. M. Ent'd & Ex'd. 

In preparing this paper I have been greatly indebted 
to a fellow member, Mr. Franklin P. Rice, for I have 
followed the example set by the Hon. George Frisbie 
Hoar, who, in an important law case, asked permission 
of the Court to use Mr. Rice's transcript of the 
Records of The Proprietors of Worcester in place of 



19 

the original — which was granted. To Mr, Ellery 
B. Crane, Librarian of The Worcester Society of An- 
tiquity, I am also greatly indebted for the use of a 
remarkable map drawn by himself, of the Worcester 
of 1713. It shows the division of the land to each 
original settler, with each original allotment desig- 
nated by name. He, having only the Proprietors 
Records of measurements to consult, has joined the 
various allotments together and made a complete 
whole. To Mr. E. C. L. Morse I am also under much 
obligation for surveying and drawing plans for me of 
Capt. John Wing's original allotments of land. His 
careful work has established certain old historical 
land marks, boundaries and traditions. 

The incidents which I have described are all cen- 
tered about Mill Brook and it certainly was and is a 
wonderful stream. It is stated that, from its source 
in Holden until it flows into the sea at Providence, in 
comparison to its length and volume it has been and is 
the hardest worked stream of water in New England 
and possibly in the country. 

Two hundred and thirty-one years ago, as this 
handwriting of our ancestors tells us, it ground the 
corn and sawed the lumber for the inhabitants of 
Worcester, and ever since it has contributed its aid 
in manufacturing almost everything necessary for 
their personal use. Its contributions to manufactur- 
ing products used over the whole world, which it 
ambitiously tried to send to the ocean by its own 
power, have been of immense value, and today, while 
giving all this aid to Worcester, it gives to the towns 
on its banks below, much that Worcester can spare 
and generously relinquishes. 



LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 



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